The temperature was 30 degrees and snow was starting to fall when a Greene County sheriff’s deputy made a decision to transport a man, allegedly intoxicated with a BAC of .367, to the hospital when the man said he wanted to be left to die. He had been found lying behind a dumpster at a gas station convenience store.

William Moser

William Richard Moser, 58, of Bloomington, wound up in jail after a trip to the hospital, arrested by GCSD Deputy Jordan Gooding. He was booked in around 4:30 p.m. last Thursday, March 7.

Around 12:15 p.m. that day, Deputy Gooding was dispatched along with Deputy Heather Wood to the Junction gas station located near the intersection of State Road 58 and US 231. They were advised of someone lying behind a dumpster who could not walk and was slurring his words.

When the deputies arrived, rescue personnel were on the scene saying the man, Moser, was uncooperative but was inside the ambulance.

Deputy Gooding said when he entered the ambulance, he could smell an overpowering odor of an alcoholic beverage. Moser was able to give the deputy his name but gave an odd answer about where he was. When asked how much he had to drink, Moser allegedly said two pints and an EMT said Moser had another bottle of whiskey in a bag with him.

Deputy Gooding said due to Moser’s level of intoxication, the freezing temperature and the fact Moser didn’t know where he was, he advised Moser he needed to go to the hospital. Gooding said Moser told him he needed to shut up and he called the deputy a f---ing queer ass. When the EMT told Moser he needed to go to the hospital, Moser allegedly said he wanted to die and wanted to die now, that he didn’t want to start shit but there was going to be shit unless they let him die.

Moser continued to tell deputies to shut up and reached for Deputy Gooding as though he was going to grab him. At that point, his arms were handcuffed to the cot for safety.

In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Deputy Gooding, he wrote, “Due to William being extremely intoxicated, stating he wanted to die, not knowing where he was, and the weather being 30 degrees out and starting to snow, I could not leave William outside by himself because he was not in a condition where he could take care of himself and he was a danger to himself. The ambulance transported William to Greene County General Hospital to be cleared by medical professionals before I transported him to jail for public intoxication.”

But upon arrival at the hospital, Moser allegedly became combative, raised a leg to kick the deputy and told everyone there he was going to start punching people in the face. He was allegedly trying to sit up and fight those trying to help him and hospital security officers Woodall and Van Horn got involved to assist.

A nurse was unable to check Moser’s vitals – he threatened to punch her in the face. He also allegedly said he was going to kill everyone in the room and he threatened to use his son’s AR-15 on the nurse. He allegedly threatened other personnel as well.

Gooding reported medical staff advised him Moser had a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .367 but he was cleared and transported to jail. On the way, he allegedly made an attempt to get hold of Deputy Gooding’s gun.

Gooding also reported that Moser’s criminal history shows he has been charged 16 times with public intoxication with seven of those resulting in convictions.

Moser was initially booked in on one count of public intoxication and one count of intimidation, both misdemeanors, and his bond was first set at $3,500 surety with ten percent allowed, but that changed.

After information was submitted to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office and a criminal case was filed, Moser is now facing three counts of intimidation, all Level 6 felonies, and public intoxication that endangers life, a Class B misdemeanor.

When the probable cause was approved by Judge Martin, she set Moser’s bond at $12,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

As of late Monday, Moser had not posted bond but remained in jail with an initial hearing in Greene Superior Court scheduled for Tuesday morning, March 12.

GreeneStreets

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